Type-writing machine.



J. C. MOLAUGHLIN- TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG. 21, 1909.

Patented May 24, 1910.

UNITED STATES V PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. MOLAUGHLIN, 01" JERSEY .CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 UNDEBWOOD TYPEWRITER COMPANY. OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Application filed December 21, 1909. Serial No. 534,269.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. MGLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State .of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Vriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined margin-regulating and signal-operating mechanisms for type-Writing machines.

In the usual type of Underwood front strike machine, the margin gages controlling the widths of the right and left hand margins on a sheet are slid-ably mounted on a gage-supporting rod, and are provided with dogs engaging racks lying parallel with the rod. One of said racks is provided with rock-arms mounted on the gage-supporting rod, the inner rock-arm of the rack lying about midway of the ma-chine'am'l of the range of movement of the carriage. thereby restricting the two gages to limited fields of adjustment, and preventing the use of both gages at either extreme of movement of the carriage.

The object of this invention is to provide improved and simplified means to enable the operator to adjust both gages to either extreme of movement of the carriage and at the same time to provide a strong and efficient structure readily applicable to existing machines having either wide or narrow carriages, without changing the other features of the machine.

In said Underwood machine, the left hand margin gage is usually provided with cams which are engageable by a ta ppet on the carriage, whereby movement is communicated through said gage to the bell-striking and key-locking devices. In the present instance said devices comprise a horizontal rock shaft extending clear across the machine in front of the carriage and journaled at its ends in the framework. Said left hand margin gage is mounted upon said rock shaft to slide for substantially the entire length of the same, and hence is ad'ustable for practically the entire length 0 the run of the carriage. The gage is splined to said rock-shaft. The spline is preferably in the form of a bar extending along the rockshaft andrigidly secured thereto in such a manner as to strengthen the same substantially, thus making the device especially desirable in wide carriage machlnes. Upon said bar I cut teeth to be engaged by a dog upon said left hand margin gage, thus forming a rack extending substantially the entire length of the run of the carriage. The gage may be slid along to any desired point and in any position may be acted upon by the carriage tappet, and caused to rock the rock shaft and operate the bell-ringing and linelocking devices.

The right hand margin gage, which limits the return movement of the carriage to begin a new line, is mounted at its forward portion upon sald shaft to slide therealong, and at its rear portion upon the front rail, which is usually provided as a track for the front carriage roll. Said rail is formed 'with rack teeth to be engaged by a dog on said right hand margin gage, said teeth pointing in the opposite direction from those which are engaged by the dog in the left hand margin gage. Since the right hand margin gage plays between the supports which carry the rocking rack, instead of outside of said supports as in said Underwood machine, there is nothing to limit the range of adjustment of the right hand margin gage, which accordingly may be adjusted to substantially the full length of the run of the carriage. The right hand margin gage does not rock with said rock shaft, not being splincd thereto; but said shaft may rock freely indepemlently of said gage, the latter being formed to clear the rack bar, which fixed to said rock-shaft.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an Underwood typewriting machine, illustrating one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the left hand margin gage showing its location when the cam is engaged by the carriage. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the gages and rocking rod. Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the ri ht hand gage, etc. Fig. 5 is a similar view 0? the left hand margin gage, in normal position.

The usual carriage 1 of said Underwood writing machine runs upon a cylindrical rail 2, which at its ends is supported in standards 2 erected upon a frame A. The carnage has a roll 2 to run upon said rail. Upon the carriage is fixed the usual tappet 9, to enis to press down the cam-piece 10, and thereendent arm 13 hav-.

by rock forwardly the ing at its lower end a tip 13*, which engages a cam 13 formed on a hammer 12 which rings a bell 11. Said head also carries a pin 13 to engage an arm 13 provided on the rock shaft 13 which carries a locking bar 18, normally ineffective but swung forwardly by the lever 13 to lock the keys 18* after the bell 11 has been sounded. Instead of pivoting the arm 13 loosely upon a fixed rod, as usual in said Underwood machine, I fix it upon a shaft 5, which at its ends is journaled upon the pivots or gudgeons 19, which are secured in the said standards 2, whereby the shaft 5 is permitted to rock together with the arms 13. It will be seen that the pivots 19 may be readily placed in the same holes in said standards 2*, which have heretofore been employed for supporting the usual fixed rod for which the shaft 5 is substituted, and hence no change needs to be made in the framework in said Underwood machine in order to adapt my invention thereto. \Vhen said cam 10 is pressed down by said tappet 9, the margin gage 4 swings about the shaft 5 as a pivot, and causes said shaft to turn with it. This result is effected by splining the margin gage 4 to the rock-' shaft 5 by means of a feather or splining bar 7, which is formed upon or secured to preferably the rear side of the rock shaft 5; the gage 4: having a shoulder 4' (Fig. 5) to rest upon said spline 7 Hence it follows that when the tappet 9 depresses the cam 10, the shoulder 4: of the margin gage is caused to press down upon the spline 7, and thereby the rock shaft 5 is rocked downwardly, and the arm 13 is swuaag forwardly. Any suitable spring, as 14, may be employed for returning the parts.

Upon the splining bar 7 I form teeth 7, so that said bar constitutes a rack, the range of which is about equal to the length of run of the carriage 1; and with said rack engages a dog 6 pivoted at 6 upon the margin gage el, and having a finger-piece 6, whereby the margin gage may be adjusted along the rack. A spring 6 holds the dog in engagement with the rack teeth. It will be noticed that the swinging arms or supports of the rack usually employed in said Underwood 'machine are dispensed with, and that the travel of the gage 4.- is no longer limited thereby; the standards 2 constituting the sole supports of said rack and giving the desired ample range to the gage 1.

Referring now to the devices for arresting the carriage when returning to begin a new line. l is the stop usually mounted upon the carriage, to cooperate with a stop 15, which is provided upon a margin gage 3, which is intended to be adjusted along the rail 2, to regulate the stroke of the carriage. This margin gage 3, it will be noticed, is supported jointly by the, rail 2 and the rockshaft 5, the rocking of the latter or of the rack 7 thereon having no tendency to disturb the margin gage 3, because the latter is prevented from rocking by reason of the rail 2. The body of said margin gage 3 is well above the rack 7 so that the latter cannot touch it.

It will be seen that there is nothing to obstruct the adjustment of this gage to any position between the left hand and right hand end portions of the rods 2 and 5. In other words, since I have dispensed with the usual supporting arms for the rocking rack present in the Underwood machine, as aforesaid, the adjustment of the gage 3 is no longer restricted by said arms. Accordingly, the rac'lr 17, usually out upon the front side of the rail-"2, to be engaged by the dog 16 on the gage 3, is prolonged nearly to the end of the rod 2, as illustrated. Hence, it will be secn'that either gage may be adjusted nearly to the extreme right or extreme left of the-rods 2 and 5, and hence long or short lines of writing may be placed at any desired portion of the page. The dog 16 is pivoted at 16 to the gage, and has a finger piece 16 and returning spring 16. This gage has a top opening 3 in the portion thereof that rides upon the rail 2, to clear the carriage roll 2*; and at its front portion it only partly surrounds the rock-shaft 5, but suiticiently to secure it against displacement while not obstructing the rocking action of said shaft.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage and a signal and key locking mechanisms, of a rock-shaft journaled in the opposite sides of the frame of the machine and connected with the signal and key locking mechanisms, a slide sphned on and adjustable throughout substantially the entire length of the rock shaft, and engaged by the carriage to rock the slide and rock-shaft to operate the signal and keylocking mechanisms.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, and a signal and key locking mechanisms, of a gage-supporting rock shaft, a gage splined thereon, and pro jecting beyond the rock shaft to form a crank to be engaged by the carriage to rock the shaft, and a direct connection between the rock shaft and the signal and key locking mechanisms for operating the latter when the carriage contacts with the gage to rock the shaft.

3. In a typewriting i'nachine, the combination with a carriage, a signal device, and a key locking mechanism, of a combined gage support and signal-operating mechanism, comprising a rock-shaft journaled in the sides of the machine, a gage splined on the rock shaft and adjustable from side to side of the machine to effect the arrest of the carriage at different points in its range of movement, the gage lying in the path of the carriage and engaged thereby to rock the shaft, and an arm depending from the rockshaft to operate the signal device and key locking mechanism, when the shaft is turned.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, and signal and key locking mechanisms, of a rock-shaft extending across and journaled at its ends in the frame of the machine. an arm directly con nccting the rock-shaft and the signal and key locking mechanisms. a rack forming part of the rock-shaft and extending substantially across the machine, a slide turning with the rock-shaft and adjustable thereon, a dog on the slide cooperating with the rack to lock the slide in adjusted position, a cam carried by the slide and engaged by the earriage to rock the shaft and actuate the signal and key locking mechanisms against the tension of a returning spring for yieldingly maintaining the cam in thc path of movement of the carriage.

In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage. key locking and signal mechanisms. of a rock-shaft journaled at its ends in the sides of the frame of the machine and having a rack forming a part of, and projecting therefrom in the form of a feather. the rack extending substantially across the machine, a slide adjustable on the rock shaft and rack across the frame of the machine and havinga dog intermeshing with the rack. the rack splining the slideon the rock shaft. and a direct connection between the rock-shaft and signal and key locking mechanisms. the slide being engaged by the carriage at the end of a line for operating the slide to rock the shaft and actuate the signal and key locking mechanisms.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a frame having a toothed rail, a carriage running on the rail, and signal and key locking mechanisms, of a rock shaft extending beside the rail and journaled at its ends in the opposite sides of the machine,

a rack on the rock shaft extending across the machine, right and left hand margin gages adjustable on the rail and on the rockshaft, respectively, from side to side of the machine, and having dogs to engage the teeth of their respective supports, the right hand margin gage being guided on the rockshaft and clearing the rack, a direct connection between the rock shaft and the signal and key locking mechanisms, the left hand gage turning wlth the shaft and engaged by the carriage to rock the shaft and actuate the signal and key locking mechanisms.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of stationary and rotatable gage supports mounted in and extending across the machine, a right hand margin gage on the stationary gage support to arrest the return movement of the carriage, a left hand margin gage splined on the rotatable gage-support, both gages being adjustable to either extreme of the range of movement of the carriage, the left hand margin gage bein engaged by the carriage to rock the rotatable gage support, and si nal and key locking mechanisms direct y connected to the rotatable gage support and operated thereby.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, of ages both adjustable to either extreme o movement of the carriage to regulate the widths of the right and left hand margins, a gage-supporting shaft extending from side to side of the machine, a rack bar secured to and forming a part thereof, a dog on one of the gages cooperating with the rack bar, the remaining gage sliding on the rod and being arched to clear the rack bar.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage and signal and keylocking mechanisms, of a rock-shaft journaled in the opposite sides of the frame of the machine and connected with the signal and key-locking mechanisms, a slide splined on and adjustable throughout substantially the entire length of the rock-shaft, and engaged by the carriage to rock the slide and rock-shaft to operate the signal and keylocking mechanisms, a. rail on which the carriage runs, and a gage mounted to slide on both the rail and the rock shaft and adjustable throughout substantially the entire length of the rock shaft and rail to arrest the return of the carriage to the beginning of a line.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a frame having a rail, a carriage running on the rail, and signal and key-locking mechanisms, of a rock shaft extending beside the rail and journaled at its ends in the opposite sides of the machine, a rack on the rock-shaft, extending across the machine, a left hand gage adjustably mounted on the rock shaft to slide from side to tially from end'to end thereof; to arrest the side of the machine, and having a dog to carnage at the beginning of a line. engage the rack, the left hand gage turning with the shaft and engaged by the carriage JOHN MOLAUGHLIN' 5 to operate the signal and key-locking mech- Witnesses:

anisms, and a right hand gage mounted on JomgO. SEIFERT,

both the rail and rock shaft to slide substan- K; FRANKFURT. 

